Argyllshire, a maritime county in the W. of Scotland, including nearly all the islands of the Inner Hebrides. In extreme length the mainland extends about 112 miles S. from the boundary with Inverness-shire to the North Channel, and approaches the opposite coast of Ireland within a distance of 13 miles. Area, 3213.1 square miles. Population 76,468, or 24 persons to each square mile. The mainland is much indented by picturesque and far-reaching sea-lochs, which render its coast-line proportionately very great. The peninsula of Kintyre extends about 55 miles S. from the Crinan Canal to the Mull of Kintyre, and is from 5 miles to 10 miles broad. Ardnamurchan Point is the most westerly projection on the mainland of Scotland. The principal sea-lochs are Eil, Linnhe, Leven, Etive, and Firth of Lorne in the NW.; and Fyne, Striven, Long, and Goil branching from the Firth of Clyde. The sea views along the W. coast and among the islands are magnificent, while the loch and mountain scenery is everywhere grand and picturesque. The surface is nearly all rugged and mountainous, the low and arable land lying chiefly round the coasts. The highest summit is Ben Cruachan, altitude 3611 ft., in the NW. of the mainland. The largest lake is Loch Awe, which stretches for upwards of 20 miles S. from the base of Ben Cruachan. The arable land constitutes about one-eighth of the entire area. Slate is extensively quarried and exported. The fisheries are very important, especially the herring fishery on Loch Fyne. There are several large distilleries in Islay and at Campbeltown. Railway communication extends through Perthshire to Oban, on the NW. of Argyllshire. The county comprises the districts of Lochiel, Ardgour, Sunart, Ardnamuchan, and Morven in the NW. detached section; Lorn, Argyll, Cowal, Knapdale, and Kintyre in the main body; 37 parishes, parts of 3 other parishes, the parliamentary burghs of Campbeltown, Inveraray, and Oban (part of the Ayr Burghs).
– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)
Note: see Hebrides for islands in Argyll.
Argyll & Bute Council Archives
Manse Brae Area Office
Lochgilphead PA31 8QU
01546 604774
The Archives (records office) holds and preserves the official records of Argyll and Bute Council and also the records of the organisations whose functions the council inherited. These organisations include: the Commissioners of Supply, parish councils, burgh councils, schools, school boards, Argyll County Council and Bute County Council.
Auchindrain Museum
By Inveraray PA32 8XN
01499 500235
Farm townships like Auchindrain were once common throughout Scotland and indeed much of Europe. Today only Auchindrain survives as an exceptionally complete, evolved group of farm buildings, dating from the period 1750-1840.
Bute Museum
7 Stuart Street, (by Rothesay Castle), Rothesay
Isle of Bute PA20 0BX
01700 505067
In this busy museum, situated behind the castle, you can experience the archaeology, history, natural history and geology of the Isle of Bute. It offers an extensive display of birds and mammals etc found on the island, and a wild flower display throughout the summer.
Campbeltown Museum
Hall Street
Campbeltown PA28 6BJ
01586 552366
www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/node/32683
Campbeltown Museum occupies a sizeable room in an A-listed building which also houses the local public library. The initiative to establish a library and museum was came in 1896 from the Kintyre Scientific Association, today still active as the Kintyre Antiquarian and Natural History Society.
Castle House Museum
Castle Gardens
Dunoon PA23 7HH
01369 701422
The Castle House Museum, which has been open since 1998, is one of Dunoon’s most historic locations. Dunoon became a holiday resort when Lord Provost Ewing of Glasgow bought the land around the ruined medieval castle and built himself a holiday home.
Glencoe & North Lorn Folk Museum
Glencoe Village
Glencoe PH39 4HP
01855 811 664
The Glencoe Folk Museum was co-founded in 1966 with the aim ‘To collect, preserve and exhibit articles, costume, objects and information, relevant to the history and social conditions of the Glencoe and North Lorn district for the purposes of education and interest’.
Hill House, The
The Hill House, Upper Colquhoun Street
Helensburgh G84 9AJ
0844 493 2208
www.nts.org.uk/Property/The-Hill-House
The Hill House is considered to be Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s finest domestic creation. Sitting high above the Clyde, it is home to original Mackintosh furniture and interior design and also has attractive formal gardens designed recognisably in the Mackintosh style.
Inveraray Jail & County Court
Church Square, Inveraray
Argyll PA32 8TX
01499 302381
www.inverarayjail.co.uk
Inveraray Jail is a living museum and top Scottish visitor attraction where real people portray life in a 19th century prison. Interact with costumed characters, watch courtroom trials, talk to the prisoners, meet the Warder, go to jail and witness cell life, sample the punishments, browse the exhibition of prison artefacts, then make your escape.
Iona Abbey & Nunnery – Historic Scotland
Island of Iona PA76 6SQ
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/places
Founded by St Columba in 563, the restored abbey and monastic buildings retain their spiritual atmosphere, and house a superb collection of over 180 medieval carved stones, from high crosses to pillow stones.
Islay Family History Society
Islay House Square, Bridgend
Isle of Islay PA44 7NZ
01496 810 187
From May to September, volunteers man the society’s office at Highfield, High Street, Bowmore, Isle of Islay.
Kilmartin House Museum
Kilmartin House Museum
Kilmartin PA31 8RQ
01546 510278
There are more than 350 ancient monuments within a six-mile radius of the village of Kilmartin, Argyll: 150 of them are prehistoric. This extraordinary concentration and diversity of monuments distinguishes the Kilmartin Glen as an area of outstanding archaeological importance.
Lismore Museum & Heritage Centre
Port a’ Charrain PA34 5UL
www.celm.org.uk
A stunning ecologically friendly building, opened in March 2007, housing a museum charting island life throughout the ages. On the same site is an award winning 19th century Cottar’s Cottage, fully restored, a time warp of island life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; a library/research and conference room; a gift shop and café.
MacDougall Collection
Dunollie House
Oban PA34 5TT
01631 570550
Not yet a museum, but a museum collection with a vigorous outreach programme. The private collection of the late Miss Hope MacDougall, comprising some 5000 objects.
Mount Stuart
Isle of Bute PA20 9LR
01700 503877
The spirit of 19th-century invention is embodied in Mount Stuart – a feat of Victorian engineering, this neo-gothic mansion was one of the most technologically advanced houses of its age. Truly a house of firsts, we believe Mount Stuart was the first home in the world to have a heated indoor swimming pool, and the first in Scotland to be purpose built with electric light, central heating, a telephone system and a Victorian passenger lift – most of which are still in use today.
Museum of Islay Life
Port Charlotte
Isle of Islay PA48 7UA
01496 850 358
The museum building is the former Free Church in Port Charlotte, and after restoration opened to the public in 1977. Since then, with the generous help of islanders donating material of all kinds, the museum has built up a main collection of over 2700 objects as diverse as stone implements used in the Mesolithic era, Victorian and Edwardian items from the Laird’s house, farming implements, everything necessary for an illicit still, relics from shipping disasters, over 1200 books, very substantial paper archives, including much unique material, and nearly 5000 photographs, some dating back more than 100 years.
Oban War & Peace Museum
Old Oban Times Building, Corran Esplanade
Oban PA34 5PX
01631 570007
Oban War and Peace Museum boasts interesting collection of artefacts and photographs showing many aspects of life in Oban and the area through the years, including information on the strategic role played by the area during WWII when Oban Bay was home to Flying Boats. Find out about old Oban, the ferries, the fishing and maritime industries, the railway and local sport. There is a fine collection of Military badges and probably the largest Flying Boat model in Scotland.
Ross of Mull Historical Centre
Millbrae Cottage, Bunessan
Isle of Mull PA67 6DG
01681 700 659
Museum relating to the history of the region. Includes geneaological resources, documentation on local issues, maps and information relating to the Ross of Mull.
Skerryvore Lighthouse Museum
Lower Square
Hynish, Isle of Tiree PA77 6UQ
01865 311468
Tisit the Story of Skerryvore Lighthouse exhibition to find out how the heroic engineers and keepers built and maintained Scotland’s tallest lighthouse, Skerryvore, on one of Britain’s most dangerous rocks, over 10 nautical miles out to sea. This exhibition records the fascinating account of the hazardous Skerryvore reef and the design and construction of the lighthouse by Alan Stevenson, uncle of Robert Louis Stevenson. It features unique examples of industrial archaeology, a scale model of the lighthouse and interpretation material of general and educational interest.
Strachur Smiddy Museum
The Clachan
Strachur PA27 8DG
01369 860565
The building in which this small museum is housed has been owned and operated for four generations by the Montgomery family as the local blacksmiths. The contents have remained virtually untouched since the last iron was set down and the building was closed for commercial use. The museum therefore contains tools, clothing and equipment that would have been used as part of the blacksmiths day to day work.